A Forum for Dialogue.

Perhaps you've noticed the small in-house advertisement we use as a space filler on occasion that promotes the idea "We Love Letters."

It's true, we really do.

We are especially gratified when a guest commentary by a superintendent or another school leader elicits an outpouring of feedback. That's happened several times in the past few months. (We stretch the definition of "outpouring" at our limited-circulation magazine to mean a half dozen or more responses.)

On the letters page in this month's issue, you'll find a representative sampling of reactions to a poignant column by Steve Singleton, superintendent in Mountain Home, Ark., about his personal connection to Crayolas and the way he uses them to teach a lesson to colleagues district wide. His column, which ran in August, apparently touched a responsive chord in many readers, a number of whom sent off notes via email to the author and to us.

A month later, Lake Worth, Texas, Superintendent Janice Cooper's brief commentary, "Keeping One's Perspective," about maintaining an appropriate balance between matters important and trivial, evoked a similar flurry. A few of those letters will appear in next month's issue.

Publishing readers' letters fulfills our important mission of serving as a forum for continuing dialogue on significant issues.

Whenever you find yourself identifying with a writer's point of view--or want to cast a dissenting perspective or let us know you spotted a slip-up in our pages--we hope you will send off a letter to the editor. We still accept postal mail as well as the electronic variety.

Jay P. Goldman

Voice: 703-875-0745

E-mail: [e-mail]